The population of Mqabba, a very small village situated in the South-Eastern part of Malta, amounts to circa 3,200 inhabitants. Although it is a very small village, it is a unique village as the majority of the globigerina limestone (ġebla tal-franka) found in Malta is found in Mqabba. Hence it is the special village blessed with the only natural resources found on the island. Most of the houses built in Malta have globigerina limestone as the main characteristic in construction. This geological feature conditioned the socio-economic life of the village as most of the quarry workers are workmen from Mqabba and the neighbouring villages of Qrendi, Żurrieq, Siġġiewi, Kirkop, Safi and Luqa.
The importance of Mqabba is even shown in the archaeological remains found in the vicinity of Mqabba. Extinct animals were found in quarries at “Ta’ Kandja” and “Tax-Xantin”. A sign that Neolithic people lived here, was evident with the discovery of a nearby cave found in a site known as “Bur Meghez”. However one of the most important discoveries in Mqabba are the Paleo Christian “Mintna Catacombs” found in Diamond Jubilee Square in 1860 by Dr. A. A. Caruana and Capt Strickland. In fact this is a complex of catacombs. The ritual table known as the “Agape” table dominates the whole structure of tombs. Archaeological details were studied by Mayr. Becker, Zammit and Bellanti.